As part of the national government’s convergent efforts to combat illegal drugs, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will take the lead in the after-care, re-integration and transformation support for recovering drug dependents. It will, then, create a Regional Technical Working Group to synchronize efforts of the Department and member – agencies come December of this year.
DSWD Focal person for this special program, Ofelia Pagay, said that with the agencies coming together, the result will be an effective and efficient delivery of after-care services and programs to the recovering drug dependents. Pagay, who is also Protective Services Unit Head, added that this will be in preparation for their eventual transformation and re-integration in their families and communities and to prevent recurrence of drug abuse or relapse.
Said Pagay, DSWD Regional Director Restituto Macuto is the principal focal person of the RTWG, and the DSWD Assistant Regional Director for Operations as alternate.
Member-agencies are the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Justice – Parole and Probation Administration, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, and local government units.
This special program, dubbed as Assistance to Rehabilitation and Recovery of Drug Dependents, will have a fund of Php63, 960, 197. 17 for use in nationwide implementation this year.
Said budget is intended for the implementation of Cash-for-Work and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations.
For recovering drug dependents to be eligible in either of the two, Pagay said that they need to present their Court Order. In case they have undergone Community-Based Rehabilitation Program led by the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS), they are to present Certification indicating that they have completed the rehabilitation process.#